People with Disabilities

Every morning, Ahmad sets off on his moped from his home near the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on his way to work as a UNHCR refugee outreach volunteer, offering support to vulnerable Syrian refugees and Lebanese locals, many of whom have disabilities.

Ahmad knows only too well the importance of the work he does. Two years ago, while walking to his parents' house in his hometown of Zabadani in Syria, he was struck by a mortar blast and lost both of his legs. Now, with the help of UNHCR and his custom-built moped, he is determined to lend a hand to those in need.

The World Health Organisation estimates that around 15 per cent of the world’s population has a disability. Several million are thought to be displaced but often remain invisible within uprooted communities.

People with disabilities are not a homogenous group – they have different capacities and needs, and contribute in different ways to their communities. In times of crisis, they may be vulnerable to discrimination, exploitation and violence, and face numerous barriers to accessing humanitarian assistance.

At UNHCR, we work to ensure people living with disabilities have access to vital services and have the opportunity to apply their skills and capacities to benefit themselves, their families and communities.

We work around the clock to identify the issues they face and develop long-term solutions.